Simulated log-rolling device with inwardly extending baffle members

ABSTRACT

A simulated log-rolling device for use out of water that includes a pair of upright supports that carry a rotating drum therebetween which rotates about a horizontal axis. The outer surface of the drum is molded to represent bark on a tree. The drum carries water within it and the drum includes a series of internal baffles that operate in conjunction with the water to retard rotation of the drum. Structurally, the baffles extend lengthwise of the drum and further extend inwardly toward but fall short of the axis of rotation of the drum, whereby, as the drum rotates, the water is forced to flow around the inner ends of the baffles thus causing the retarded rotation of the drum.

United States Patent 1191 McKinney Nov. 5, 1974 SIMULATED LOG-ROLLINGDEVICE WITH INWARDLY EXTENDING RAFFLE MEMBERS [76] Inventor: Daniel F.McKinney, 1653 20th Ave., Moline, 111. 61265 22 Filed: Feb.21,1973

211 App1.No :334,478

[521 [1.8. CI. 272/] E 51 Int. Cl A63b 23/06 Field of Search 272/1 B,60, 69

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,407,642 2/1922 Day et a1272/60 R 2,175,197 10/1939 Kent, Jr 272/1 B 2,268,827 1/1942 Jackson272/69 2,670,206 2/1954 Brewster 273/58 H X 2,931,648 4/1960 Davies272/1 B 3,106,395 10/1963 Birkenbeul et all 272/60 X 3,193,286 7/1965Sitter 272/1 R Primary Examiner--Richard C. Pinkham Assistant ExaminerR.T. Stouffer [57] ABSTRACT A simulated log-rolling device for use out ofwater that includes a pair of upright supports that carry a r0- tatingdrum therebetween which rotates about a horizontal axis. The outersurface of the drum is molded to represent bark on a tree. The drumcarries water within it and the drum includes a series of internalbaffles that operate in conjunction with the water to retard rotation ofthe drum. structurally, the baffles extend lengthwise of the drum andfurther extend inwardly toward but fall short of the axis of rotation ofthe drum, whereby, as the drum rotates, the water is forced to flowaround the inner ends of the baffles thus causing the retarded rotationof the drum.

8 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEBNUV 5 m 3345852 FIG. 3

SIMULATED LOG-ROLLING DEVICE WITH INWARDLY EXTENDING BAFFLE MEMBERSBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Heretofore it has been known to providelog-rolling toys. For example, in one U.S. patent, there is provided anactual log that is supported on land. However, the problem with thistype of arrangement is that there is no sound of movement of water whichpeople associate with log-rolling contests. Other devices as are shownin other U.S. patents provide for log-rolling devices or toys that arefloatable in water. The problem with these types of devices is, ofcourse, that a body of water must be provided in order to use them.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION With the above in mind, it is the primaryobject of the present invention to provide a simulated log-rolling toyfor use out of water and which has the splashing sound characteristic ofan actual log in the water. It is proposed in the present invention toprovide an elongated horizontally disposedtank which may be supported atopposite ends above the ground and which has a barklike surface moldedthereon so as to appear like a log. The tank has provided internallythereof a series of baffles. It is anticipated that the tank will bepartially filled with water and the baffles will operate to retardrotation of the tank as people stand on it for purposes of rotating itand also to strike the water so that the toy will give thecharacteristic sound of a log rolling or thrashing in water.

More specifically, it is the purpose of the present invention to providean elongated tank that is carried on upright supports at opposite endsso that it will rotate. Internally of the tank there are providedradially inwardly projecting baffles that have their inner terminal endsspaced from the axis of rotation. Thus, as the tank rotates, the watermust flow over the inner ends of the baffles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view taken atone end and to the side of the log-rolling toy.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 33 of FIG.2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The toy device includes a pairof spaced apart upright supports 9, that includes upper couplings l1,12, respectively. The support at the left end of the device includes apair of depending legs 13, 14 that fit at their upper ends into thecoupler 11 and which may be anchored as at 15, 16 in cement in theground. The right end support 10 includes a pair of legs 17, 18 thatdepend from the coupler 12 and have their lower ends anchored in cementpaddings 19, 20 placed in the ground. The legs 13, 14 and 17, 18 supportthe couplers I1, 12 at between one and two feet above the ground.Extending between the upright supports 9, 1-0 and specifically thecouplings ll. 12 is an elongated rod 21. The couplers l1, 12 havehorizontal extensions 22, 23 that face one another and receive oppositeends of the horizontal rod 21. Set screws 24, 25 are provided in theextensions 22, 23 for fixing the rod 21 in the respective ends. The

rod 21 serves as a horizontal pivot for the entire simulated logindicated in its entirety by the reference numeral 26.

The simulated log is composed of an elongated cylindrical portion ortank member 30 that is generally formed about the axis of rotation asindicated by the rod 21. The tank member 30 has a molded outer surface31 simulated to represent bark on a tree. Also, the simulations 31 serveas frictional surface for one standing on the log and desiring to rotateit. The tank 30 has opposite radially extending ends 32, 33 that aresealed against the cylindrical portion 30 and which make the tanksubstantially waterproof. The ends 32, 33 have integral inwardlyextending hubs 34, 35 fitted to rotate on the rod 21 and serving tojournal the entire simulated log 26 on the rod 21. The end 32 has adetachable plug 36 that closes an opening in the end 32 so that water orliquid'may be inserted or removed from the log structure 26. Integralwith and extending inwardly from the outer cylindrical casing 30 arethree baffles 37 that have inner ends 38 terminating outwardly of therod 21. The baffles 37 extend the full length of the simulated roll andthe ends 32, 33 are fixed to the ends of the baffles as well as thecylinder casing 30. Thus, the baffles 37 serve to rigidify andstrengthen the entire structure.

Outwardly of the ends 32, 33, collars 40, 41 are provided on the rod 21and bolts 42, 43 are provided in the collars so as to lock the collarson the rod 21 and to, of course, bear against opposite ends 32, 33 ofthe simulated log 26 so as to prevent the log from moving axially on therod 21.

The simulated log 26 may be between one and three feet in diameter andpreferably between one and onehalf feet and two and one-half feet indiameter. It is supported so that it is relatively close to the groundso that if one feels himself slipping while standing on the log he mayjump from the log without injury. In operation, the plug 36 is removedand the log is filled with water substantially to the level as shown inFIGS. 2 and 3. The plug 36 is then inserted so as to close the openingand the log is ready for operation. The baffles 37 contacting the wateras the log rotates will retard rotation of the log so that the log willhave the feel of one that is actually in water. Also, the sound of waterwithin the log will simulate the sound of a log as it actually rotatesin water. v

It should also be recognized that the triangular-type supports 9, 10 atopposite ends of the log-rolling toy are such that they could be locatedin a recreation room or within a building or gymnasium. The legs 13, 14and l7, 18 would then have suitable pads on their lower ends so thatthey could be carried on the floor. Thus, when reference is made togroundborne with respect to the logging device, it should be recognizedthat this is meant to include the indirect type of groundborne such aswould occur by a floor which is in turn carried on the ground.

I claim:

1. A simulated log-rolling device for use out of water comprising: apair of spaced apart and ground-borne upright supports; an elongatedhorizontal liquidcarrying rigid tank structure supported on the supportsand including a horizontal elongated rigid tank supported to rotateabout a substantially horizontal axis and sealed at opposite ends; adetachable plug on the tank forpassing liquid to and from the tank; andrigid baffles fixed to and extending lengthwise of the tank andextending radially inwardly with respect to the inner surface of thetank toward inner ends falling a substantial distance short of said axisof rotation so that water may freely flow around said inner ends as thetank rotates.

2. The invention as set forth in claim 1 in which the tank iscylindrical shaped and has an outer surface formed to simulate bark on atree.

3. The invention as set forth in claim 1 in which the tank structureincludes an elongated rod having opposite ends fixed to the respectiveuprights above the ground, and the opposite ends of said tank havejournal means thereon journaled on the rod that supports the tank torotate on said rod about said horizontal axis.

4. The invention as set forth in claim 3 in which the rod is round, theends of the tank are radially extending with respect to the rod and thejournal means are integral with the ends and extend axially within thetank, and further characterized by means externally of the tank at saidends for limiting axial movement of the tank on the rod.

5. A simulated log-rolling device composed of an elongated rigidliquid-carrying tank structure having an outer roughened surface andrigid internal baffle members extending lengthwise of the tankstructure, said center of the tank structure so that water may freelyflow around said inner ends upon rotation of the tank structure, saidtank structure having horizontal journal means at opposite ends thereofand ground borne means including vertical supports at opposite ends ofthe tank structure having supports engaging said journal means and forsupporting said tank structure above the ground and for rotation about asubstantially horizontal axis; and a detachable plug on the tankstructure for passing liquid to and from the tank structure andinternally thereof.

6. The simulated log-rolling device as set forth in claim 5 in which thesupports support the tank structure so that the underside thereof isclosely adjacent to but above the ground.

7. The simulated log-rolling device as set forth in claim 6 in which thetank structure is in size between one and three feet across the axis.

8. The simulated log-rolling device as set forth in claim 6 in which thetank structure is in size preferably between one and one-half feet andtwo and one-half feet across the axis.

1. A simulated log-rolling device for use out of water comprising: apair of spaced apart and ground-borne upright supports; an elongatedhorizontal liquid-carrying rigid tank structure supported on thesupports and including a horizontal elongated rigid tank supported torotate about a substantially horizontal axis and sealed at oppositeends; a detachable plug on the tank for passing liquid to and from thetank; and rigid baffles fixed to and extending lengthwise of the tankand extending radially iNwardly with respect to the inner surface of thetank toward inner ends falling a substantial distance short of said axisof rotation so that water may freely flow around said inner ends as thetank rotates.
 2. The invention as set forth in claim 1 in which the tankis cylindrical shaped and has an outer surface formed to simulate barkon a tree.
 3. The invention as set forth in claim 1 in which the tankstructure includes an elongated rod having opposite ends fixed to therespective uprights above the ground, and the opposite ends of said tankhave journal means thereon journaled on the rod that supports the tankto rotate on said rod about said horizontal axis.
 4. The invention asset forth in claim 3 in which the rod is round, the ends of the tank areradially extending with respect to the rod and the journal means areintegral with the ends and extend axially within the tank, and furthercharacterized by means externally of the tank at said ends for limitingaxial movement of the tank on the rod.
 5. A simulated log-rolling devicecomposed of an elongated rigid liquid-carrying tank structure having anouter roughened surface and rigid internal baffle members extendinglengthwise of the tank structure, said baffle members extending inwardlywith respect to the inner surface of the tank structure toward innerends falling a substantial distance short of the longitudinal center ofthe tank structure so that water may freely flow around said inner endsupon rotation of the tank structure, said tank structure havinghorizontal journal means at opposite ends thereof and ground borne meansincluding vertical supports at opposite ends of the tank structurehaving supports engaging said journal means and for supporting said tankstructure above the ground and for rotation about a substantiallyhorizontal axis; and a detachable plug on the tank structure for passingliquid to and from the tank structure and internally thereof.
 6. Thesimulated log-rolling device as set forth in claim 5 in which thesupports support the tank structure so that the underside thereof isclosely adjacent to but above the ground.
 7. The simulated log-rollingdevice as set forth in claim 6 in which the tank structure is in sizebetween one and three feet across the axis.
 8. The simulated log-rollingdevice as set forth in claim 6 in which the tank structure is in sizepreferably between one and one-half feet and two and one-half feetacross the axis.